Wandile Mthiyane, a Durban University of Technology first-year student from KwaMashu, has been awarded a five-year scholarship that will see him jetting off to the US next week.
An 18-year-old’s dream has come true. Durban University of Technology first-year student Wandile Mthiyane, of KwaMashu, has been awarded a five-year scholarship that will see him jetting off to the US next week.
Mthiyane, a town and regional planning student, will pursue a triple major in architecture, town planning and civil engineering at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan.
He will receive more than R40 000 from the university and an extra R49 000 from the US embassy.
A devout Christian, Mthiyane attended Solusi Adventist High School in Bula-wayo, Zimbabwe.
He moved to Zimbabwe because of links between his church and the school.
He said he wanted to study abroad to bring fresh ideas back to SA.
“Abroad you get a different view, especially in First World countries which have developed infrastructure,” he said.
Mthiyane applied to go to Andrews University in August last year and had to write a tough test to get in.
“It was difficult. It was internet-based and I had four hours to complete it,” he said.
Bertha Pitout, town and regional planning first-year co-ordinator, said the department was extremely proud of Mthiyane.
“We are very excited for him. He is conscientious, ambitious and very eager to learn,” she said.
* In a sad turn of events Mthiyane’s mother died yesterday. He will still be flying to the US next week.
